"Or-a-gone" or "Or-a-gin"? (Corvallis, Albany: accent, summer)

[Larry Caldwell]

Oregon comes from an Assinoboine word, "ouricon", which means, "the place with all the salmon." The eastern pronunciation of Oregon is closest to the original word, just like the southern pronunciation of oil, "ol," is the closest to the original Latin.

If they can't pronounce Willamette, try them on Clatskanie or Langlois. Or just to illustrate how inconsistent Oregonians are, try them on Irrigon.

I love local pronunciations. There are some really big gotchas in Oregon, like Buena Vista or Heceta, neither of which use the Spanish pronunciation. Been to Champoeg Park lately?

[PNW-type-gal]

Aloha, Oregon is another one.

"a-LOW-a" with the a short.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

Oregon comes from an Assinoboine word, "ouricon", which means, "the place with all the salmon." The eastern pronunciation of Oregon is closest to the original word, just like the southern pronunciation of oil, "ol," is the closest to the original Latin.

Where did you get that from? Last I was aware the exact origin of the name was unknown, but could be traced to several possible sources.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

Or just to illustrate how inconsistent Oregonians are, try them on Irrigon.

I live not far from Irrigon. People I have heard, from the Umatilla/Hermiston area, pronounce it so much like 'Oregon' (the Oregon way of saying it, we all know it) that if you missed the initial vowel you couldn't tell if they meant the little town along the Columbia or the state itself.

[Clark Park]

Here in Philadelphia we pronounce it the wrong way - or-a-gone; I know this is wrong because I was fortunate enough to actually vacation in your outstandingly beautiful state. Now here in Philly one of our major thoroughfares is Oregon Ave - an important boulevard on the south side that contains major shops and shopping centers and restaurants - including the famous Tony Luke's which is place most of us Philly people say has the best cheesesteak sandwiches in the world (forget the hype about Pat's or Geno's - that's for tourists).

[skinem]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

I live not far from Irrigon. People I have heard, from the Umatilla/Hermiston area, pronounce it so much like 'Oregon' (the Oregon way of saying it, we all know it) that if you missed the initial vowel you couldn't tell if they meant the little town along the Columbia or the state itself.

Yup. That's how I heard it when I used to work in Umathrilla, uh, Umatilla.

Ear-again. Or Ear-a-gun.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

Here in Philadelphia we pronounce it the wrong way - or-a-gone; I know this is wrong because I was fortunate enough to actually vacation in your outstandingly beautiful state. Now here in Philly one of our major thoroughfares is Oregon Ave - an important boulevard on the south side that contains major shops and shopping centers and restaurants - including the famous Tony Luke's which is place most of us Philly people say has the best cheesesteak sandwiches in the world (forget the hype about Pat's or Geno's - that's for tourists).

Philly gets pardoned on account of the general wonders of what people from its region can do with assorted pig leftovers. I have a buddy from there--in fact, I bought him some 1950s Phils baseball cards for Christmas--who regularly brings me Taylor pork roll, scrapple and Lebanon baloney from there. So if Philly wants to butcher the state's name, I can't correct them with my mouth full.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by skinem

Yup. That's how I heard it when I used to work in Umathrilla, uh, Umatilla.

Ear-again. Or Ear-a-gun.

Heh, Umathrilla! Well, it would have been thrilling if one of the earthen bunkers had leaked...

[skinem]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

Heh, Umathrilla! Well, it would have been thrilling if one of the earthen bunkers had leaked...

Yep. We had our leak plan in place...it involved some bending over, kissing, and lots of crying. We felt much better after we got our emergency packages of duct tape and plastic sheeting.

[rjlowe]

it was explained to me; "Do you want a knife, or a gun?" Tigard was interesting, since where I'm from there's a Sigard, which is said; Sig-urd (rhymes with sick bird). But Tigard is Ty-gurd.